Coming Together for Combustion

By
Saudi Aramco News /
/
12 August 2015

The Saudi Aramco Research & Development Center (R&DC) recently organized the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Saudi Arabian Section of the Combustion Institute. The meeting, held at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Riyadh, brought together about 80 combustion scientists from research institutions in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The Role of Combustion Science In a world where sustainability represents one of our greatest challenges, it is important to consider the role of combustion science. In general terms, combustion science relates to the study of systems that convert chemical energy into so-called work. And although we may not realize it, these devices play a central role in our everyday lives. “The engines in our cars, along with the gas turbines that power commercial aircraft, are both examples of devices that convert the chemical energy within a fuel into work,” says Amer Amer, fuel chief technologist in the Saudi Aramco R&DC and chairman of the Saudi Arabian Section of the Combustion Institute. “Additionally, consider how often you use devices that rely on electricity generated in power stations, such as cell phones, computers, and kitchen appliances. All of these modern necessities have been made possible by combustion science.” As a leading global exporter of energy, Saudi Arabia has a key role to play in the development of clean and efficient combustion systems. “The Saudi Arabian Section of the Combustion Institute is central to this objective, as it actively supports the development of the Kingdom’s young combustion scientists,” says professor Bill Roberts, director of the Clean Combustion Research Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and vice chairman of the Saudi Arabian Section of the Combustion Institute. Largest Meeting Ever The fifth annual meeting was the largest in the section’s history. In total, 36 researchers presented their findings at the meeting, with another 26 researchers participating in the work-in-progress poster session. The Combustion Institute was founded in 1954 and serves as the parent organization for about 30 national sections worldwide. The local Saudi Arabian Section was founded in 2010 with about 30 members. Today, the section has more than 80 members.